Can Social Media Affect My Workers' Comp Claim?

It has become second nature for many people to share their everyday lives
with their friends and family through social media platforms such as Facebook,
Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and more. From sharing vacation photos to
commenting on work events, most people do not think twice before connecting
to their favorite social media network and sharing their thoughts and
experiences. Unfortunately, doing so can sometimes have damaging legal
consequences, especially when dealing with a pending
workers’ compensation claim.

In the event that you should suffer an
on-the-job injury, everything you post online or on social media platforms can potentially
become a significant liability and impact the outcome of your workers’
comp claim. Employers and insurance companies may use any information
you post to attempt to delay or deny your claim, even if it does not directly
relate to your injury. For example, if you were to file for workers’
comp and post a video of you hiking the following day, your employer may
claim that your injuries are not as serious as you claim they are and
seek to deny your benefits.

But I Thought My Posts Were Private!

While most social media platforms have privacy settings which allow users
to control who sees their posts, these measures are not fool-proof. There
are still several circumstances in which an unintended party can see your
posts, such as if someone were to take a screenshot and send it to your
employer or if your mutual friends should relay information. Likewise,
many social media sites have features which allow friends to see posts
which their friends have “liked” or commented on, making it
much more difficult to know exactly who is reading your posts.

Given this uncertain privacy, it is crucial you exercise extreme caution
when posting anything online during your workers’ compensation claim.
Activities which can potentially raise flags to insurance adjusters or
employers include:

Traveling

Exercising

Working

Making large purchases

Lifting heavy objects

Exaggerating your pain

Entertaining

Get a Dedicated Workers’ Comp Advocate on Your Side

If your workers’ comp claim has been denied in relation to a social
media post or for any other reason, know that you do not have to accept
the denial without a fight. At Alvandi Law Group, P.C., our Orange County
workers’ comp lawyers understand your situation and can provide
the powerful legal support you need to maximize your eligible compensation.

The information on this website is for general information purposes only.
Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual
case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt
or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.

x

⚠

Your browser is out of date. To get the full experience of this website,
please update to most recent version.